Most in Poll Want War Funding Cut: Bush's Approval Rating Ties All-Time Low

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: Washington Post, page one

By Jon Cohen and Dan Balz
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, October 2, 2007; Page A01

Most Americans oppose fully funding President Bush's $190 billion request for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and a sizable majority support an expansion of a children's health insurance bill he has promised to veto, putting Bush and many congressional Republicans on the wrong side of public opinion on upcoming foreign and domestic policy battles.

The new Washington Post-ABC News poll also shows deep dissatisfaction with the president and with Congress. Bush's approval rating stands at 33 percent, equal to his career low in Post-ABC polls. And just 29 percent approve of the job Congress is doing, its lowest approval rating in this poll since November 1995, when Republicans controlled both the House and Senate. It also represents a 14-point drop since Democrats took control in January.

Despite discontent with Congress this year, the public rates congressional Republicans (29 percent approve) lower than congressional Democrats (38 percent approve). When the parties are pitted directly against each other, the public broadly favors Democrats on Iraq, health care, the federal budget and the economy. Only on the issue of terrorism are Republicans at parity with Democrats.

Part of the displeasure with Congress stems from the stalemate between Democrats and the White House over Iraq policy. Most Americans do not believe Congress has gone far enough in opposing the war, with liberal Democrats especially critical of their party's failure to force the president into a significant change in policy....

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/01/AR2007100101235.html?hpid=topnews

[PDJane]

1. That's because most folks see this for what it is.......

A money and power grab that is going to be of no benefit to the average citizen.

[Amonester]

17. I think the following "unconvenient truth" is "getting through" (somehow)

Worst than the Enron crooks' plan, the Bush/Cheney Republics' plan is to steal away billions of barrels of oil in Iraq/n and charge the taxpayers for all expenditures, both in sinking dollars and in military blood. Their ongoing plan shows no end in sight.

How can they sleep without shame? Where has true justice gone in 2007?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. I heartily wish our congresscritters would look at those polls...

And come to their senses about the funding...

[olddad56]

3. I wonder if he has any clue what his approval rating is? I doubt it.

[Amonester]

19. We know * doesn't care.

He knows nobody will do anything about it.

[AzDar]

4. Doesn't matter does it? They still control the voting machines....

[DearAbby]

6. I wonder

Could we derail Diebold by just writing the name of the candidate? They cant dispute a name, and they cant flip it. If we had a campaign to write in the name of your candidate....press other, and write in say Hillary Clinton, or anyother name...could Diebold flip those votes?

[alllyingwhores]

5. THIS JUST IN...DEMS DON'T GIVE A FUCK!

All but two Dem senators just voted to send emperor pissy pants 150 Billion more of our money to fund the illegal war.

[kurth]

7. "'Most Americans do not believe Congress has gone far enough in opposing the war"

[sandnsea]

8. Only 3% support full defunding

I thought DUers read more than headlines.

[trogdor]

15. Thank you.

What the Democrats in Congress are surrendering to isn't Bush, it's reality. As long as Bush remains in office, the change in direction needed to bring this war to a close will not be forthcoming. Put me in the 23% camp, somewhere near the line where the 43% camp starts. Cutting money without a plan is a lousy idea, but we can hold hearings and start pulling money on a targeted basis where it is being wasted/stolen. We'll win the White House next year, even with HRC, and then watch the Bush generals run for the exits. You'll see lots and lots of colonels getting promoted in '09.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

9. Yet the democrats won't even commit to leaving before 2013!

If the Democrats want to remain relevant in any form with the American people they need to END THIS,

[DrDan]

10. "Only on the issue of terrorism are Republicans at parity with Democrats. " . . . If

the Dems were to take a protectionist view of immigration, their approval rating would soar.

Protect the ports.
Protect the borders.
Deal with "illegal" aliens.
Do not offer anything close to amnesty.

Offer a worker program for those entering legally.

That is what the people want - in my opinion. This does not deny opportunities to those who want to immigrate - it just legalizes it. Amnesty programs are not the answer

And how do you deal with the 12-20 million illegal aliens? You cut off the reason they are here. You go after those that are hiring. Stiff penalties for those that are circumventing the laws for cheap labor.

my oh-so-humble thoughts.

[rodeodance]

11. PAGE A01------

[rodeodance]

12. I heard Dana Purrena say: The Pres does NOT base his decisions on PUBLIC opinion

[Mike Daniels]

16. To be honest, no leader should base his decisions solely on public opinion

However, Bush has gone beyond that and has also chosen to disregard the opinions of people who have access to more information than the public and who are more knowledgeable on certain issues than he or his staff.

[gratuitous]

18. Yeah, that whole will of the people thing is soooo overrated

The people want the Iraq occupation wound down and ended, and they want SCHIP funded, by sizable majorities. Yet the Legislative and the Executive will continue the Iraq occupation at high levels, and the SCHIP will be vetoed and not brought up again.

What's this "representative democracy" thing I've heard about? Could we try it in the United States?

[rodeodance]

13. Topic subject Senate approves $150B in war funding WITH VOTES

Forum Name Latest Breaking News
Topic subject Senate approves $150B in war funding
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3013201#3013201
3013201, Senate approves $150B in war funding
Posted by defendandprotect on Mon Oct-01-07 06:50 PM

Source: ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press Writer

Senate approves $150B in war funding By ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Thwarted in efforts to bring troops home from Iraq, Senate Democrats on Monday helped pass a defense policy bill authorizing another $150 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The 92-3 vote comes as the House planned to approve separate legislation Tuesday that requires President Bush to give Congress a plan for eventual troop withdrawals.

The developments underscored the difficulty facing Democrats in the Iraq debate: They lack the votes to pass legislation ordering troops home and are divided on whether to cut money for combat, despite a mandate by supporters to end the war.

Hoping the political landscape changes in coming months, Democratic leaders say they will renew their fight when Congress considers the money Bush wants in war funding.


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071001/ap_on_go_co/us_iraq

. Here

NAYs ---3
Byrd (D-WV)
Coburn (R-OK)
Feingold (D-WI)

Not Voting - 5
Biden (D-DE)
Clinton (D-NY)
Dodd (D-CT)
McCain (R-AZ)
Obama (D-IL)

[Javaman]

14. Why is it that the top Dem candidates for prez didn't vote on this?

were they out on the trail trying to convince the american public of their will to be leaders? snaking out of one of the most important votes to me doesn't bode well for them. But hey, what do voting records matter, right?

sigh...

:banghead:

[MissWaverly]

20. I love the not voting part

you want to lead the country but you can't take responsibility to vote on a bill, how is this any different than prospective
candidates for Supreme Court not answering questions.

[BurtWorm]

21. Are you listening, Pelosi-Reid?

Clean out your ears!